Looking for a holiday getaway you won’t remember the next day? It’s time to go to Vegas, baby! You’ll make some great memories in the neon-lit streets. Heck, you might even marry your sweetheart with Elvis Presley or Cher officiating. On second thought, maybe this should be a solo-cation—your call.
When you’re not taking in a glitter-clad concert or making the slot machines glow, explore the peaceful Mojave Desert or simply escape to the modern amenities of one of our swanky Las Vegas hotels. They want you to take the fancy soaps.
Wondering how to get to Vegas? Well, follow the trail of sequins to southern Nevada, just west of the Colorado River. You’ll find accommodation in Las Vegas as easily as you’ll find an all-you-can eat seafood smorgasbord—which is super easy, in case you were wondering.
If you want more of these fun-loving desert vibes, there’s more where that comes from. Book Nevada accommodation in other cities, too, and see the rest of “The Silver State” sparkle.
Things to Do in Las Vegas
Before you start strutting what your mum gave ya, here’s a pro tip: In Vegas, there is no “nightlife”. It’s just life, 24/7. Start at the Neon Museum, dedicated to the many lights along Las Vegas Avenue. Oh, and if you ever wanted to learn more about the history of organised crime, visit the Mob Museum north of Fremont Street, where you can find some great eats and equally delightful people-watching.
Before you come in for a crash landing in one of the top hotels in Las Vegas, make sure you see a show at the Bellagio or Cirque du Soleil. And if you’re dying to see Europe but don’t have time for two inter-continental holidays, there’s always the canals at the Venetian and a miniature Eiffel Tower in Paris, Las Vegas. Seriously, we can’t make this stuff up.
Getting To & Around Las Vegas
Book flights to Las Vegas with lastminute.com.au and touch down at McCarran International Airport (LAS), just 10km south of downtown. Public transport runs from the airport and around the city centre, but Vegas is a driver’s town, so check out our cool car hire deals before you book.
When you’ve been sampling the punch, don’t worry—taxis are as plentiful as poker chips. Finally, if you feel like you just need to “get above it all”, consider spoiling yourself with a Scenic Night Flight over the Strip. Yeah, your Facebook friends are going to go bonkers with jealousy about this one.
Popular Events
Major events are a matter of course in Las Vegas. There’s nowhere else on earth where you will need to seriously sit down with your travel companions and debate which mega-superstar to see tonight. One day in Las Vegas can easily include a once-in-a-lifetime boxing matchup, epic reunion tour or major industry convention.
However, if you plan on visiting Sin City in early August, it’s time to change out that “ABC123” password you’ve been using for all your online accounts. Def Con X Underground brings every serious hacker to the Alexis Park Hotel—the white hats and the black hats. Watch out who you beat at the poker table or you could find your super-secret Twilight fanfiction suddenly all over the internet.
If you’ve ever wanted to know what you’d look like if you spent as much time in the gym as you do Netflixing and chilling, stop by the Mandalay Bay Events Center in mid-September for the Mr. Olympia and Fitness Olympia Competitions. We promise that you’ve never seen grown men flex so hard.
Party Zone/Nightlife
When you visit the “City that Never Sleeps”, the question isn’t what you should do after dark…it’s how to choose from the endless options on hand. Las Vegas is an adult playground, and if it’s naughty, sexy, crazy or over-the-top, then the city invites you to indulge to your heart’s content.
The Strip is home to some of the world’s most famous and glamorous casinos. Drop into any one, and you can spend your night blowing on dice for good luck at the craps table, seeing a mega superstar onstage (Britney has all her hair back now), or shaking and grinding next to a Disney Channel star making bad life decisions.
What do you want? World-class acrobats performing on a huge stage-as-pool? Blue men wailing out awesome tunes? A magician sawing himself in half? A little Thunder Down Under? Or how about an “Ultra Pool”, a massive pool-plus-club-plus-bar? You can do it all!
And just in case you have a little appetite left over, you also happen to be in a foodie paradise. The best food in Las Vegas is all around you. If a person’s hosted a show on the Food Network, he or she has a restaurant tucked into one of the casinos. Play hard, but try to hang onto some petrol money for the morning.
Weekend Getaway
If The Hangover has taught you anything, it’s that the most epic nights inevitably lead to fuzzy, mildly nauseating mornings/afternoons. If you need a little time to rehydrate and negotiate with your landlord for an extension on paying next month’s rent, take a trip to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, a gorgeous nature reserve located just 28km west of The Strip. This is a great place to rock climb, or simply rest your retinas on something that isn’t pulsating with LED lights.
Ready to try your luck in Sin City? Mix and match your dream holiday to Las Vegas with lastminute.com.au. We’ve got sweet deals on places to stay in Las Vegas, flights, activities and more.
Hailed as the quintessential Las Vegas show, Folies Bergere at the Tropicana captures the essence of sexy, classic Las Vegas with its scantily-clad showgirls and spectacular dance routines. Also unmissable is Cirque du Soleil's Mystère, an extraordinary show which explores the origins of life through an unforgettable mixture of dance, acrobatics, music, opera, and comedy, and plays to sell-out audiences at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino.
Win big in Sin City
No trip to Las Vegas would be complete without a visit to one of the many iconic casinos which have served as the backdrop to many a Hollywood film, including 'Ocean's Eleven' and 'Diamonds are Forever.' Visitors can play a game of roulette under the magnificent frescos of the Venetian, and then enjoy a drink at Coyote Ugly in New York-New York. However, the casinos aren't just about the gambling. The striking architecture and unique design of the buildings mean that you can enjoy a day of sightseeing without setting foot inside.
Gambling is the key to the Sin City's economy and attracts people from all over the world, all of whom are seeking their fortune. The central strip never sleeps, with most of the casinos open 24 hours a day, and most venues offer live entertainment and free drinks to those brave enough to play throughout the night. Different casinos offer different stakes, so it's advisable to start small before heading to the high-stakes tables of the Bellagio and the Riviera.
Feats of man and nature
For a fresh-air break from the gambling, true thrill-seekers should be sure to check out the Stratosphere, which includes the tallest thrill ride in the world. The ride ascends past the peak of a skyscraper over 329 meters high, offering magnificent views of the city, before plummeting down to the roof of the casino. It's definitely not one for the faint-hearted.
For those seeking an escape from the non-stop chaos of the casinos and shows at the main strip, the Hoover Dam is located 30 miles south-east of Las Vegas. It towers a staggering 700 feet above the Colorado River and represents one of the finest achievements in modern engineering.
Across the border in Arizona lies the Grand Canyon, which is an impressive 277 miles long and almost a mile deep. This national park is a feat of nature and holds a variety of museums and information centers, as well as caves, forests, and grasslands. Hide